Plans have been submitted to North Lincolnshire Council to develop one of Europe’s largest data centres on land near South Killingholme and the A180.
If approved, the Humber Tech Park would lead up to £3bn in investment and create almost 400 jobs as well as making the area a leader in AI.
Cllr Rob Waltham of North Lincolnshire Council said: “North Lincolnshire already has a number of companies that provide significant employment in the technology sector and these new proposals show a massive vote of confidence in North Lincolnshire’s economy, helping us to continue to transform the area into a tech superpower.
“This is a generational level of investment in the area and, if approved, would be a magnet for attracting other high-tech businesses.
“The jobs would be highly skilled and highly paid – averaging around £50,000 a year for operational employees – with many more employed during the construction phase.
“The proposals would also see investment in community infrastructure and money for local education and training. Biodiversity would also be improved with landscaping, tree planting and ponds.
“The proposal now needs to go through the council planning process.”
A free celebration of Sutton-on-Sea’s rich history and culture is set to take place this June, as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Arts Council England NPO project.
Vintage-on-Sea, which has been put together in collaboration with community groups and representatives, will take place on Saturday 29 June, from 10am to 4pm, with a variety of different acts and entertainment including singers, bands, dance groups, magicians and more.
A market will take place on the day, with over 30 different stalls for people to explore and enjoy including vintage items, food and drink and games and activities. A series of craft workshops will also be available giving people the opportunity to create their own miniature seaside windmills to take home with them, as well as face painting and lots more family-friendly fun.
As part of the entertainment High Tea [with a twist], from Levantes Dance Theatre in London, will be performing, and are currently looking for six volunteer dancers (split into three couples) who will work together to create something memorable before and during the show. The volunteers will get to wear a bespoke costume and be part of both digital and in-person rehearsals.
Individuals interested in this opportunity will need to email Samantha Benson at Samantha.Benson@e-lindsey.gov.uk by Saturday 18 May, and should be able to commit to sessions to practice in the run-up to the event, including a free taster session to decide upon the six dancers on Saturday 25 May, from 2pm to 5pm at the Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth.
As well as Vintage-on-Sea there are a host of other events taking place across the summer in Sutton-on-Sea, including a large-scale group sand drawing activity on the beach on Saturday 22 June.
Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader at East Lindsey District Council, said: “It’s really exciting to have such a wide variety of activities available for our residents in Sutton-on-Sea across the summer months, which I’m sure will provide a lot of fun and entertainment, as well as an educational experience to learn about the history and geography of the area.
“There is a great programme of work and events planned through the NPO programme across East Lindsey and South and East Lincolnshire, and I am delighted that Sutton-on-Sea can be such a hub for these activities whilst the new Colonnade is built.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Brian Jackson
Revesby Country Fair, a popular Lincolnshire family day out, will return this summer with crafts, country pursuits and cooking.
Taking place at Revesby Park on Sunday 4th August, the much-loved country show will offer a fun-filled day of entertainment, activities and events.
This year’s packed programme boasts stunt horses and riders that have performed in hit TV shows, as well as traditional favourites including classic cars, vintage tractors, shire horses, show jumping and mounted fancy dress.
Atkinson Action Horses, this year’s headliners, are well-known for amazing audiences with their skill and energy and have appeared in major TV series’ including Peaky Blinders, The Witcher and Poldark.
With more than 200 traders and exhibitors expected, the event also promises its annual cooking, growing and flower competitions – which anyone can enter – plus live music, ‘have a go’ hobbies and the iconic ‘Revesby style’ terrier racing.
John Roe, Chairman of Revesby Country Fair, said: “This year’s show is set to be a brilliant family day out, showcasing the very best food, drink and crafts that Lincolnshire has to offer. With a huge range of trade stands, performances and family activities, there’s something for everyone.
“We’re especially excited to welcome Atkinson Action Horses back in the ring, with a show that promises to ‘thrill, excite and astonish’.
“Tickets are on sale now and are slightly cheaper if you buy online in advance, so it pays to plan ahead – and you’ll skip the queues too.”
Revesby Country Fair is a dog-friendly event and visitors are invited to bring along their well-behaved, four-legged friends to take part in activities such as dog agility – a canine version of a horse cross country course – and classes that cater for all breeds.
Spectators can marvel at gundog scurries and chainsaw carving displays, and there will also be lots of hands-on activities to get involved with, including a climbing wall, face painting and aerial archery.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online in advance, priced at £15 for adults, £5 for children (aged 5-16) and £35 for a family of five (two adults and up to three children).
On-the-day tickets will be priced at £16 for adults, £6 for children (aged 5-16) and £37.50 for a family of five (two adults and up to three children).
Applications for general trade stands, car stands and indoor craft stands are still available, but filling up fast.
To find out more about Revesby Country Fair, or to book tickets and trade stands, please visit revesbycountryfair.co.uk.
North Lincolnshire couple Steve and Gill Ayling have dedicated their lives to beating an ‘undercover killer’ that lurks undetected and then takes the lives of more than a dozen young people every week.
They’d never heard of Young Sudden Cardiac Death until it claimed the life of their son Nathan five years ago, who, like 80% other sufferers, had shown no symptoms but was nevertheless found dead in bed at the age of just 31.
Nathan Ayling
What’s more, a dedicated screening programme could save the lives of 90% of those who die from Young Sudden Cardiac Death.
And now spearheading a group called The Beat Goes On they are determined to do everything they can to save other parents from the grief they suffered. They’re doing that by fierce campaigning to get Government to implement a national screening programme, and in the meantime investing a whopping £13,600 a year to provide private screening for 200 people aged between 14 and 35.
That money buys the services of a mobile cardiac screening unit and its staff who set up shop at Hope House Community Hub in Scunthorpe for two days each year. The unit has three pods, so three people can be tested every ten minutes, and all get to see a cardiologist.
The service is offered through a charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young, or CRY for short. That brings together people like Gill and Steve throughout the country who have the same shared vision.
The results of the screening can be remarkable, says Steve. “A perfect example is Georgia, a 24-year-old mum of two with no symptoms who came for screening and was found to have four holes in her heart. They were corrected by surgeons in Leeds. It’s fair to say the screening has meant she’ll have a longer life with her children, and that’s priceless.”
The money to pay for the screening has been raised through their own efforts, and donations like the £250 given by Freemasons of Scunthorpe’s St Lawrence Lodge.
Said Gill: “The people in the village of Scawby have been marvellous supporters. We started off with car booting and bake sales, and then marathon running and safari suppers, but we needed to do so much more. That’s why donations from people like the St Lawrence Lodge Freemasons are so important.”
Their next fundraising drive will be to work with companies keen to find good causes to support their Corporate Social Responsibilities.
The couple have taken their campaign to Parliament, where they have met Government Ministers and MPs in their push for a national screening programme.
Says Gill: “Why should grieving parents have to pay to save young lives? If 12 young people were dying each week in a specific type of car, the Government would do something urgently about it.”
How to get your test in North Lincolnshire
This year’s testing arranged exclusively by The Beat Goes On is on July 16th and 17th.
To book a test search Facebook for The Beat Goes On 31
Cllr Naomi Tweddle has been formally appointed as the new Leader of City of Lincoln Council at its Annual General Meeting.
She has been Labour councillor for Minster ward in the city since 2016, and the Executive Member for Inclusive Economic Growth for the past year. Prior to this, she was Chair of the council’s Planning Committee.
Her appointment to the position follows Cllr Ric Metcalfe’s decision to step down after 42 years serving as a city councillor, during which he was council leader for a total of 21 years.
Cllr Tweddle was born and raised in Lincoln, growing up on the Ermine estate, and still lives in the city with her young family. She attended St Peter and St Pauls school prior to going to the University of Leicester and currently works as Head of the Case Unit for the UNISON in the East Midlands.
Also at the AGM, Cllr Donald Nannestad was appointed to remain in his role as the council’s Deputy Leader, working alongside Cllr Tweddle to deliver the council’s priorities under its Vision 2025, and Cllr Joshua Wells stepped up into the vacant role of Executive Member for Inclusive Economic Growth.
BBC TV presenter Peter Levy is alongside a children’s author and an Armed Forces Champion to receive honorary awards from Bishop Grosseteste University next week.
Two awardees are set to receive Honorary Doctorates for their outstanding contributions to academic achievement, social, economic, or cultural life.
Three Distinguished Honorary Fellowships and one Honorary Fellowship will be awarded at the ceremonies. Distinguished Honorary Fellowship is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to the University and public life, while Honorary Fellowship is awarded in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the University extending beyond normal responsibilities.
Among the Honorary Doctorate awardees is BBC presenter Peter Levy, whose career in broadcasting spans 49 years. He has presented BBC Look North for Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire since 2002 and received the Lord Mayor of Hull’s Civic Crown Award for his charity work.
Hannah Gold, another recipient of an Honorary Doctorate, is celebrated for her contributions to children’s literature. The award-winning author is known for her Sunday Time’s best-seller The Last Bear, as well as The Lost Whale, Finding Bear, and her new book, Turtle Moon. Hannah’s books have sold over 230,000 copies in the UK alone and have been translated into 27 languages.
Receiving a Distinguished Honorary Fellowship is Alex Baxter, whose service in the Royal Navy inspired his current roles as Chairman for the Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee for Yorkshire and the Humber, and Armed Forces Champion for North East Lincolnshire Council among others. He is Managing Director of Joint Services Major Events Team delivering all aspects of civil/military engagement and the Armed Forces Community Covenant on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council. As Chair of Franklin Sixth Form College, he volunteers much of his time to the post-16 education sector and to raising the aspirations of students and their onward progression at universities including BGU.
Educationalist, historian, and academic Judith Jones will also receive a Distinguished Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the University and public life. With a passionate interest in the history of Lincolnshire, the city of Lincoln, and its Cathedral; Judith has inspired students as a history teacher at various schools in Lincolnshire. Judith’s previous student – historian and BGU Chancellor Tracy Borman said: “It is no exaggeration to say that I owe my career to her. She brought history to life in a way that I have never experienced before or since.”
For over ten years Judith acted as a voluntary judge for the Sandford Award, which is administered jointly by Bishop Grosseteste University and the Heritage Education Trust.
Also receiving a Distinguished Honorary Fellowship is Paul Deane, Principal and Chief Executive of Grantham College, and a founding director of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology. The Lincolnshire Institute of Technology is an example of successful collaboration between the FE and HE sectors, and Paul’s work has fostered excellent collaborations with both Bishop Grosseteste University and the University of Lincoln as well as other Further Education providers in supporting the needs of people and the economy in the region.
Richard Hallsworth is set to receive an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his dedicated service to the University, as a trustee and member of Council for BGU over eight years. Now the Managing Partner of Lincoln based accountants Nicholsons, he previously worked as part of the Business Improvement Group in Market Rasen to deliver high street regeneration through the government backed Portas Pilot Scheme.
Bishop Grosseteste University Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen Stanton said: “As we approach this year’s graduation ceremonies, I am delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Honorary Doctorates and Honorary Fellowships. We recognise these individuals for their enrichment of academic, social, economic, or cultural spheres, embodying the spirit of our institution.
“Their contributions inspire us and serve as beacons of achievement for our entire community, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments and welcoming them into the esteemed ranks of our honorary awardees.”
The awards will be presented during graduation celebrations on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th July at Lincoln’s Cathedral. Awardees were nominated by current BGU students, staff, and University Council members.
Grimsby town centre and Scunthorpe High Street are amongst ten struggling high streets chosen to take part in a new government pilot – the High Street Accelerators programme – to create partnerships leading to long-term regeneration plans.
They’re each to be given £237,000 to help communities partner with local authorities and businesses to address some of the biggest challenges facing their high streets – building on wider action to tackle empty shops, anti-social behaviour and a lack of visitors.
They can also apply for a share of up to £5 million to improve their high streets’ green spaces and create more pleasant environments for residents to meet and socialise.
This £7 million will be spent over the next two years and the impact will be evaluated to inform future government policy and support for left-behind high streets, building on larger interventions like the £1.1 billion Long-Term Plan for Towns.
Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: ”It has been a tough few years for our high streets following the pandemic and the changes we’ve seen in consumer behaviour.
“We know that local people know what’s best for their area, and we’re keen to understand the benefits that High Street Accelerators could bring working with local businesses and their communities.
“These Accelerators will complement other interventions like High Street Rental Auctions, empowering local people to tackle vacancy and other issues on their high streets.”
Plans are underway to bring It’s A Knockout to the county in aid of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Gather a team to take part in the action-packed day, which will be held on Sunday 30 June at Sleaford Town Football Club.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Fundraiser, Gary Burr, said: “It will be a fun action-packed day to raise money for the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity. This is a great chance to get together with friends, families, and work colleagues to have some fun while raising money for your local hospitals charity.”
Participants must be aged 16 and over. The charity is looking for teams of 10 people. There is a £20 entry fee per person and each team is asked to raise £800 minimum sponsorship.
Kirstie Cartledge is part of the Bowel Cancer Screening Team at Lincoln County Hospital. Kirstie and colleagues have formed a team called the Bowel Screening Babes who will all be dressing up as poo emojis. She said: “What a brilliant way to get everyone together for such a worthy cause. We have got colleagues, friends and family members in our team.
“We will have an extra challenge due to our costumes, we may not be the fastest but we will certainly be having loads of fun. The most important thing is that everyone enjoys the day and we raise lots of funds for our charity so that they can do even more to support patients and staff.”
Gary Burr added: “We’re working with Lincolnshire based We’re a Knockout which is going to bring all of the inflatables for the day. Dress appropriately as you will get wet! Changing facilities are on site.
“Every penny raised will be used to help the charity support United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust patients and staff with those extras that cannot be provided by the NHS. So every participant and every obstacle you overcome really will make a massive difference.
“We’re also looking for stall holders to attend this event, so if you would like to attend with a stand please get in touch: charities.team@ulh.nhs.uk
“It’s guaranteed to be a great day and we can’t wait to share it with you.”
For more information about the charity and to book your place at the It’s A Knockout event, click here.
Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Three benches in Grantham’s parks are being designated as places where a chat with a friendly stranger is welcome.
‘Happy To Chat’ benches have been installed in Wyndham, Queen Elizabeth and Dysart Parks and will provide an opportunity for a quick chat or long conversation with a friendly passer-by.
The South Kesteven District Council initiative aims to tackle social isolation and promote community cohesion by encouraging people to interact with others in a safe, public space.
The benches were officially unveiled by Cllr Gloria Johnson, Chairman of South Kesteven District Council, and Cllr Paul Stokes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, in a ceremony also attended by volunteers and representatives from South Kesteven District Council.
Cllr Stokes said: “We know how important parks and open spaces can be in encouraging community interactions and so we are delighted the ‘Happy To Chat’ benches will provide yet another opportunity for people to socialise whilst visiting the park.
“The benefits of being able to connect with others are significant but unfortunately some people can go for days, or even weeks, without the simplest of human contact. We’re really hopeful the benches will help to break down that social barrier and allow our communities to connect.”
The benches feature a simple welcoming sign which reads “Sit here if you are happy for someone to stop and say hello,” making them easily identifiable as a ‘Happy To Chat’ bench.
They are located near the Visitor Centre and Model Boating Lake in Wyndham Park, along the river path facing the fishing pond in Queen Elizabeth Park and next to the Bandstand in Dysart Park.
The Council is welcoming everyone to get behind the scheme to encourage community interactions between people of all ages, as well as to strengthen support for those experiencing loneliness.
Image courtesy of South Kesteven District Council
More schools in Lincolnshire will get the chance to boost their child reading programmes with the offer of a potential £1,000 for new books and resources.
Bookmark Reading Charity is building upon its existing support in the county by providing additional ongoing resources to schools. Primary schools across the region are being invited to join Bookmark’s School Network Programme; these schools will receive £1,000 worth of resources across an academic year.
Bookmark Reading Charity is also looking for volunteers to join their network of more than 2,000 readers who help pupils in schools face to face or online by delivering reading sessions with children at risk of falling behind. The charity says its volunteering opportunities gives volunteers a sense of fulfilment and achievement as well as helping to positively impact children’s lives by igniting the joy of reading.
The charity originally launched its Your Story Corner programme in 2022 when it delivered £144,000 worth of books and resources to 72 primary schools in Lincolnshire. This was to ensure all children had access to high quality and diverse books as well as trying to develop rich reading cultures in all primary schools in this area.
The charity is now following up its Your Story Corner offering with an opportunity for eligible schools to become part of its School Network Programme.
Emily Jack, CEO of Bookmark Reading Charity, said: “We believe Bookmark’s School Network Programme is a fantastic way for us to continue supporting the schools we know are most in need of literacy support.
“We also need volunteers across Lincolnshire to continue the momentum of what we are trying to achieve. Reading online or in person for thirty minutes a week really can change a child’s future and have a positive effect on the opportunities available to them throughout their life.”
Available to previous Your Story Corner schools that meet Bookmark’s eligibility criteria, the School Network Programme is here to help schools that need support the most.
This year Bookmark has reached out to 67 schools in Lincolnshire for the School Network programme. This is based on schools’ pupil premium data, child deprivation statistics and results for Key Stage 2 SATs.
Over the last year, firefighters and staff at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue have been raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity with the aim of raising at least £80,000 in the charity’s 80th year.
The combined effort from events across the county, has already exceeded this target and raised a total of £88,101 to enhance the quality of life for serving and retired firefighters, fire personnel, and their families.
Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive councillor for fire and rescue at the county council, said: “What an amazing achievement for our fire crews who take the time to run events that their communities love and raise money for a great cause. From car washes to ladder climbs, Lincolnshire events raised the most money of any county in England and Wales – a fantastic achievement!
“Thank you to everyone who supported these efforts and for being so generous.”
Station Manager, Lee Marsh, said: “The Fire Fighters Charity does incredible work to support current and ex-firefighters and their families. They support so many people in what can be a very challenging role. Once again, our fundraising in Lincolnshire is something to be very proud of as we have exceeded even our own expectations and this figure could not have been reached without the amazing generosity of the people of Lincolnshire!”
Alford fire station’s ‘Alford to Alford’ motorcycle ride was the individual event that raised the most money which totalled almost £10,000. Many of the fire stations taking part in these events are crewed by On Call firefighters and the service is always looking for new recruits to be part of the team at their local station.
Later this year the charity will announce the total funds raised including from the charity lottery, clothes recycling at fire stations and other regular donations.
A D-Day 80th anniversary event at Saltby airfield on 8 June will turn back the clock to commemorate its wartime role.
RAF Saltby was home to America’s 9th Troop Carrier Command during 1944, flying paratroopers of the US 82nd Airborne Division to Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion of Europe.
The D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration at RAF Saltby event, from 10.30 – 3pm, will include a service of commemoration, military re-enactors, an Army field kitchen and talks in the Buckminster Gliding Club clubhouse.
The event is free but tickets for the airfield access and talks must be booked separately via Ticket Tailor.
Senior United States’ military representatives will be attending on a nostalgia visit to an airfield that played a significant role in the Allied war effort, the latest in a series of such visits.
They include the commander of the United States 314th Airlift Wing from Little Rock, Arkansas, the modern day equivalent of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing operating from RAF Saltby in 1944.
Author and Troop Carrier Command world authority, Lt Col Mark Vlahos, is also attending, giving an illustrated talk – RAF Saltby 314th Troop Carrier Group – and offering to sign any of his books for visitors who have previously bought copies.
He will be portraying Colonel Clayton Stiles, the Commander of the 314th Troop Carrier Group stationed at RAF Saltby in WW2, ‘visiting’ for the first time since the war ended.
Another talk from heritage specialist Brian Riley – Airborne Forces of Britain, the United States and Poland – focuses on the unique alliance and presence locally of Allied airborne forces from the United States, Britain and Poland that helped change the course of the war.
Darren Bond’s talk – America’s 82nd Airborne Division – will reveal the division’s history and its association with RAF Saltby and includes a demonstration of battle kit worn by both American and British airborne soldiers.
Cllr Richard Dixon-Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “RAF Saltby played a critical role in the invasion of Europe and we are delighted to help tell the story of the American contribution that helped turn the tide of war.”
For Buckminster Gliding Club, Chairman John Elkington said: “We are extremely proud of the heritage here at the airfield. We have a permanent memorial to allied forces and this event is an opportunity to honour the American troops and aircraft that flew from here on 6 June 1944.”
The commemoration is the latest in a series of US nostalgia visits over the years. The 314th Airlift Wing also gifted £3,000 to help restore the bells at Saltby Church.
The event has been organised by South Kesteven District Council, Saltby Airfield History Group and the Buckminster Gliding Club.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Robert L Parker
A bid writing service set up by MP Andrew Percy has helped to save the former St Oswald Church Hall in Keadby near Scunthorpe and convert it into a public hall.
Funding attracted for the project includes:
£70,000 to help buy the property funded by the North Lincs Enhanced and Prosperous Pot.
£36,000 UKSPF Levelling-Up funding from the Government for structural work, kitchen and electrical and new roof on extension.
£9,611 North Lincs Council Community Grant pot for heating/air conditioning system. This is the fund the Conservatives set up when we took over running the Council.
£26,000 SSE Axholme North Fund for flooring and decorating.
£3,900 Axholme North SSE Fund for new chairs and Tables cooker and kitchen equipment.
Mr Percy said: “Councillors John Briggs and Julie Reed and myself are proud to have saved this facility for the community. We sadly lost John Briggs recently, but I know that this is one of the many projects across the North of the Isle he was proud to have been associated with and to have delivered for the benefit of the local community.
“The building was in a fairly deprived state and needed a lot of work, but now the downstairs looks really good and is open to be hired by local groups. Lots of work remains to be done on the upstairs.
“Well done to everybody involved in helping to save this property as a community facility. Phase 2 planning is well underway, and we hope to have more good news in the future!””
Members of the county council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee voted in favour of granting planning consent for a relief road for North Hykeham at a cost of about £200m
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “I’m incredibly happy to say that the North Hykeham Relief Road has officially been granted planning permission, which means we’re one step closer to a full ring road around Lincoln.
“Now that planning consent’s been granted, our team can formally enter into negotiations with landowners while continuing to prep all of the legal orders needed before construction can start. These include compulsory purchase orders granting powers to obtain the land needed for the road and side roads orders granting powers to improve or alter the highway.
“Our current plan is to present these to Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee in June and then Executive in July, before making them live for public consultation.
“The focus will then be preparing a full business case for DfT before making a start on building the road late next year.”
Building the new relief road is expected to start late next year and to be finished by late 2028. The cost of the project is currently estimated to be between £180m and £208m.
The North Hykeham Relief Road project would see a new dual carriageway built, linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the newly constructed Lincoln Eastern Bypass, creating a complete ring road around the city.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be needed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham.
Cllr Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The new relief road will form the final section of a complete ring road around Lincoln, making it much easier for people to get around the area.
“Among its many benefits, the North Hykeham Relief Road will help reduce congestion in and around North Hykeham, Lincoln and the surrounding villages; and improve journey time reliability; help us meet the area’s growth target; and better connect the A46 between the Midlands through to the Humber ports.”
A scheme investing in heritage assets around the historic quarter of the Port of Grimsby recently came to an end, but with hopes that funding may be found for second round of funding.
Dr Stella Jackson, Regeneration Project Manager, said: “We are very happy with what we have achieved as a group since 2019, particularly working in difficult conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our aim was to halt any further deterioration to the buildings, bringing them back into use, and creating local jobs. The knock-on effect has been the promotion of the historic dock area’s heritage, new facilities, an improved environment for people that work in the area and, of course, a strengthening of ties across the wider community.
“We are hopeful for a continuation of PSiCA as we move through 2024, particularly as the original scheme’s end comes at a time when there is much attention on the dock. Work being undertaken by businessman Tom Shutes is well underway at the Ice Factory, which will ultimately become a conference venue and office spaces, while ABP has its sights on the creation of a film quarter with proposed purpose-built studios. A hotel, proposed to be sited next to the Ice Factory, will also make a significant difference to the area.
“From a PSiCA perspective, this is already generating further interest in the historic area of the dock, encouraging people across this sector to look at many of the buildings as possibilities for their businesses.”
The Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas fund has been delivered as part of the Greater Grimsby Heritage Action Zone, and has supported projects such as Creative Start’s Great Escape, Turntable Gallery (building 88), the Creative Start building expansion, and Alfred Enderby smokehouse, which has more recently undergone a full schedule of works. In total, 16 grants have been awarded, 19 buildings improved, and more than 3,600m2 of commercial space has been improved or created.
The PSiCA scheme began with a total pot of £1m, and has been a joint project between Historic England and North East Lincolnshire Council, with support from Associated British Ports (ABP) and the council’s regeneration partner Equans. The five-year grant scheme began in 2019 and officially finished in January 2024, but several of the bigger projects supported by PSiCA ran into late March.
Creative organisations are the dominant sector to have utilised the PSiCA grant scheme to date, along with Enderby’s smokehouse and the Peterson’s project. Steve and Caroline Ridlington of WE1 Heritage have renovated nine properties, offering workspaces and studios to artists, small businesses, and Blue Chip companies. They also, with PSiCA’s help, renovated ‘Coffee on the Docks’, a popular café space on Auckland Road with a rustic interior.
Steve commented earlier: “This is an amazing place to be, you are surrounded by so much rich history and the architecture is so inspiring. This is a really exciting time for Grimsby, and we feel privileged to be associated with the scheme and its partners.”
As part of the wider ‘Kasbah Remade’ programme of regeneration, the scheme has also generated new opportunities to access and appreciate the area’s heritage and contribute to its ‘sense of place’, including Heritage Open Days events which, in 2023, saw approximately 2,000 visitors to the area. The Heritage Open Days return in September, look out for details in the summer!
Simon Bird, ABP’s Regional Director for the Humber ports, has been keen to see the area emerge as a vibrant place for people to work. He said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this scheme and to see the wonderful transformation of the buildings, some for great purposes, which is truly inspirational. We are creating a rich fabric of businesses very different to the purpose the buildings began life as.
“The Heritage Open Days on the port have proved very popular and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the amazing work that is being achieved here. We know more great things are yet to happen as we drive our vision for a film quarter on site.”
David Walsh, the principal adviser for partnerships at Historic England said: “We are delighted to see the fantastic progress made on the historic docks by local people, businesses and organisations as part of this scheme. They have led the way in regenerating the Kasbah conservation area and reviving the sense of community and life that has always existed on the docks.
“North East Lincolnshire Council has done a great job as lead partner, with support from Associated British Ports. The development of the Ice Factory will also have a huge impact on the docks.
“There is much more to do and more opportunities to grasp to further regenerate the area. We look forward to continuing to work with North East Lincolnshire Council, Associated British Ports and other partners to help make the historic docks a vital commercial hub in Grimsby once again.”
May 2024 marks a very special milestone for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Since airlifting their very first patient on 13th May 1994, LNAA has provided a life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the local communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. To date, the life-saving charity has responded to over 29,000 missions.
LNAA CEO, Karen Jobling, said: “This remarkable charity has come a very long way since its humble beginnings in 1994, when we operated out of a temporary building and could only get to patients if there was money in the bank to fuel up the old ex-police bölkow helicopter.
“Thirty years later LNAA now responds, on average, to four missions a day. Its state-of-the-art helicopter and two Critical Care Cars enable crews to give the very best treatments, day and night, to some of the most seriously ill and injured patients when they need it most, ensuring the patient has the best possible outcome.”
Shaun knows only too well how vital the service is, especially to people living in rural and coastal communities. Thirty years ago, he was one of the first patients to be airlifted to hospital by Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and says the speed which the helicopter flew him from Boston Pilgrim Hospital to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre, saved his life.
Shaun was six years old when his heart stopped beating not once but three times. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance team ensured he received the specialist care he so desperately needed.
It was July 1994 and Shaun was with his family shopping in Skegness when he suddenly slipped and banged his head causing a seizure. He was rushed to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital where doctors fought to stabilise him each time his heart stopped beating. Due to the seriousness of his injury’s the medical team decided he needed to be transferred immediately to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).
The two-hour journey by road ambulance from Boston was deemed too risky for the young boy and so Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance were called. In less than 30 minutes, they had safely airlifted Shaun to QMC where he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. He remained in hospital for three weeks, the first week in an induced coma.
Shaun will be forever grateful to the LNAA crew. He said: “If they hadn’t flown me from Pilgrim Hospital to Queen’s Medical Centre I probably would have died.”
The 30th anniversary of this wonderful charity’s service to the community is a time for celebration as well as a reflection on how far it has travelled. Karen said: “We receive no direct Government funding, and have only come this far, thanks to the incredible support from people, businesses and communities in Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire.
“As we celebrate this huge milestone for the charity and look back on how we have been able to make a positive impact on the lives of so many people, we are reminded that we must ensure that LNAA continues to be by the side of patients for the next 30 years. We’d like to thank all our supporters for their past and future support.”
Throughout this 30th Anniversary year, LNAA will be running a series of fundraising events and activities. To find out how you can get involved and help ensure this 30th year is one to remember, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk
Fifteen new community orchards have been created across Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland thanks to the delivery of home energy efficiency upgrade works for residents in the sub-region.
Osborne Energy delivered retrofitting schemes on behalf of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to eligible residents who applied for Government funding in 2022 to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Following the delivery of those schemes, Osborne Energy awarded around £6,500 funding as part of its social value commitment which has led to the creation of the new community orchards.
Through the Growing the Network project, 140 fruit trees have been planted. The orchards are at:
Kenwick Riding for the Disabled Association, Louth
Binbrook C of E Primary School
Site off Langton Road, Langton
Field next to the Village Hall, Old Bolingbroke
Belchford Village Green
Coney Hill, off South Street, Swineshead
Moulton Seas End Playing Field
Hundleby Allotments
24 Hardwick Estate, Kirton
Cowley Road, Donington
Carver Road, Boston
Station Road Allotments/MUGA, Donington on Bain
Cherry Lane Play Area, Fleet
Wellington Road, Boston
Whiting Square, Boston
Each one will help support a natural habitat for wildlife to thrive, particularly pollinators, and give members of the community an opportunity to connect with nature on their doorstep.
The gardens will all be managed and maintained locally by residents. Each will bring new health and wellbeing opportunities through connecting with the outdoors and physical activity.
Volunteers will receive ongoing support to help them learn more about orchard maintenance and it is hoped that the sites will provide a focal point for future events and community gatherings such as Apple Days and Wassails.
Councillor Callum Butler Portfolio Holder – Environmental at Boston Borough Council, Cllr Graham Marsh Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture and Carbon Reduction at East Lindsey District Council and Cllr Elizabeth Sneath, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, jointly said: “It is fantastic that so many new community orchards have been created thanks to Osborne Energy’s work in delivering energy efficiency measures for our residents.
“The orchards will bring people together, support our residents to improve their health and wellbeing, as well of course increase biodiversity. Trees are vital for the important role they naturally play in capturing and storing carbon dioxide as well as creating enhanced green space. Residents will also be able to enjoy the fruit from the trees, all grown and harvested in their community.
“We thank Osborne energy for the funding they have made through their social value commitment.
“The orchards are an additional way we are supporting the environment following the work carried out to help residents retrofit their homes. We look forward to seeing them thrive over the coming months.”
A spokesperson from Osborne Energy said: “Osborne Energy were delighted to provide a donation towards the community orchards project. We are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of residents through our social value commitments, so are thrilled at the positive impacts this project will have on the local communities and local wildlife, as well as visitors to the areas. The project will benefit so many in a number of ways, both in the present and in the future.”
Freemasons of Lincolnshire’s motorcycle lodge the Free Wheelers are setting aside two wheels in favour of four in preparation to take part in a soapbox race in Lincoln in September.
Seated in the driving seat is Lodge member Stewart Buckingham, who’s building their soapbox for the event being staged by the Krazy Races organisation on September 15th.
Stewart revealed the completed chassis on its bright yellow wheels to fellow Lodge members at their latest meeting, which they’d taken to Grimsby.
To make the cart race-ready, it will be clad in a streamlined body emblazoned with the logos of Freemasonry, and Stewart will be its pilot in the event.
The Free Wheelers are nominally based in Horncastle, but meet throughout Lincolnshire, including in Boston, where a second team of Freemasons is working on its own cart to take part in the event.
Competitors will work their way through a knockout style competition with only the fastest ten carts making it through to the final, where they will battle to take home the winner’s trophy.
The event is being staged in conjunction with Lincoln Business Improvement District, and will raise money for the Lincoln City Foundation, its official headline charity partner.
Freemasons’ spokesman Stuart Pearcey said: “This event is the perfect combination of what’s special about Freemasonry – a combination of fun and fundraising for worthwhile causes in a spirit of friendship. We very much look forward to both teams of Freemasons making it into the final ten!”
Draft designs to transform Cleethorpes Market Place and Pier Gardens will go on show this week with businesses, residents and visitors urged to have their say on the planned multi-million-pound schemes.
The areas are to be rejuvenated, supported by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. North East Lincolnshire Council was awarded £18.4m for the resort last year, following the development of the 2022 Cleethorpes Masterplan, which was spearheaded by Hemingway Design.
Everyone is asked to attend the drop-in event on Wednesday 15 May at The Knoll on the corner of Knoll Street and Alexandra Road (entry through Blighty’s Café) from 12 noon until 7.30pm.
On the same day, an online questionnaire will be launched for people to submit their thoughts on the concepts through the ‘Have Your Say’ page on the Council’s website. It will last for two weeks, closing on 22 May. Designs will then be finalised before recommendations are put to the cabinet in the summer.
On show will be draft designs for a new-look Market Place created by UK based company, Gillespies. They show public space for events, markets and for people to sit in a welcoming space and enjoy a coffee.
The concepts for Pier Gardens show it completely transformed with quiet areas where nature can thrive, and other family areas where children can enjoy the outdoors. These have been created by leading landscape architects WSP.
Both draft schemes have already taken account of the views of hundreds of people who helped to shape the Cleethorpes Masterplan. Opinions were also sought in a consultation held earlier this year – and now there’s another chance for people to say what they think about these latest visuals. Those thoughts will then be considered in final plans.
The designers have ensured that both plans consider the make-up of the areas, including access for businesses and residents, existing roads, utilities, and in the case of Pier Gardens the views towards the shoreline and the current natural environment.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council with responsibilities for regeneration, said: “We are looking forward to seeing what the respective designers and landscape architects have created from the public’s responses.
“Of course, we want the residents of the borough to have their say on the designs as they will be using the spaces in future years.
“This is a great time for North East Lincolnshire as a whole as we move into a new era for our towns. However, we want to make sure you have your say throughout this process so be sure to visit the drop in sessions or provide your comments online when the questionnaire opens.”
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